Coalescion

Happy Hijri New Year! May your year be filled with peace, prosperity, and happiness!

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Independence Day!

🛎️🛎️ Coalescion Impact Alert 🛎️🛎️
 
Coalescion CEO and Founder Shawn C. Baker-Garcia has been appointed to the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area Board of Directors!

In her new role, Shawn plans to apply her unique abilities to understand, navigate, and “coalesce” diverse international stakeholder ecosystems in support of broader UNA-NCA goals, work with the Peace and Security Committee to promote effective conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts, and support the Sustainable Development Committee’s education and awareness raising efforts.

Join us in congratulating Shawn on this exciting new role!

To read more: https://lnkd.in/eSMNWkJ9

Coalescion’s Shawn C. Baker-Garcia and Shaina Mason attended the National Defense University’s Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction 2024 Annual Symposium today. The symposium’s theme was “Lenses and Mirrors: Reflecting on Thirty Years of the WMD Spectrum.”
 
Key points covered included the expansion of WMD stakeholder ecosystems to ensure we capture all relevant expertise needed to refine successful C-WMD and nonproliferation strategies as well as deployment of integration-focused tools, capacity-building programming, and mindsets to maximize cooperative efforts at home and around the world.
 
Coalescion is excited to hear these perspectives and is doing its part to improve understanding of specific security ecosystems and the security-adjacent communities that are essential to advancing sustainable human security outcomes!
 

In the spirit of realized freedom and liberty, Happy Juneteenth!

Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating! May you and your loved ones have bountiful celebrations!

Chag Sameach to all those celebrating! May your holiday be filled with light and love!

May this month and every month be characterized by warm, welcoming, and inclusive environments, kindness, gentleness, and unbridled generosity of spirit! Have a safe and happy Pride!

To those who made the ultimate sacrifice, we honor them and offer our deepest gratitude on this day of remembrance and always.

Update: The submission deadline has been extended to 23:59 (EDT) on 20 May 2024. More information can be found on our website: https://www.coalescion.org/wistmi

Please join us in extending a “Coalescion” warm welcome to the 2024-25 Emerging Practitioners in International Security (EPIS) cohort! Thao, Emily, and Zaid are exciting additions to the EPIS program and are bringing a unique and important diversity of interests, skills, experiences, and education to our organization’s activities and work. You can read more about the EPIS program and about these impressive individuals on our website. The EPIS model puts a modern twist on traditional apprenticeship-style professional development and knowledge enrichment in that master practitioners who work alongside EPIS members are also gaining valuable insights and perspectives from those newly entering the international relations and security space!
 
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Shawn C. Baker-Garcia Founder and CEO, the International Advisory Board, and all Coalescion staff, Welcome, Thao, Emily, and Zaid! We cannot wait to see what we can accomplish together and learn from each other!



https://www.coalescion.org/epis-program

Coalescion CEO, Shawn Baker-Garcia and Board of Director Vice President, Greg Baker facilitated their annual guest lecture for a graduate-level Georgetown University Defense Threat Reduction Initiatives course. 

In this lecture, Shawn and Greg connect the dots between U.S. national security priorities and U.S. security cooperation programs designed to support those priorities. Using an Iraq CBRN Preparedness case study, they then consider how and where these programs succeed in addressing threats and if or in what conditions outcomes are sustained by the recipients of these cooperative efforts.

BLUF: The U.S. has effective processes and expertise to identify partner nation capability and capacity gaps but there is room for improvement with program design, implementation, and sustainability. Recommendations: 1) create mechanisms to bring partner stakeholders into program design earlier and more frequently, 2) rethink/redefine sustainability metrics, strategies, and expectations so there is more focus on “operationalization” of outcomes as a “precursor” to sustainability, and 3) add Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge, Practice, Skills, and Tools (KPSTs) operationalization specialists to capacity building teams; if you only have logisticians/organizers and technical experts/instructors, you are missing a core competency!

Thank you to course instructors, John Jacocks and Carl Newman for continuing to invite Shawn and Greg to address their graduate students!

To those celebrating, wishing you a joyous Passover!

Coalescion is excited to announce Sotheary YIM as our newest International Advisory Board (IAB) member! Sotheary will apply her unique and rich professional expertise and experiences to support Coalescion with critical Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, as well as organizational communications, conflict resolution, team cohesion, and professional development and synchronization strategies. Please read her IAB bio found on our website to learn more about Sotheary’s extraordinary background and record of accomplishment! Welcome to our Coalescion, Sotheary!

https://www.coalescion.org/yim
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Apply Now! 🎉
 
Coalescion, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Export Control and Border Security Program (EXBS), invites applications for the Women in Strategic Trade Mentorship Initiative (WiSTMI). The initiative will provide mentorship to early-to-mid-career women in the field of strategic trade controls, or a related field, who are based in the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, or Cambodia. This 6-month program is open to candidates from the public and private sectors. 
 
The application window will be open from April 10 - May 10. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.coalescion.org/wistmi

Eid Mubarak to those celebrating, wishing you blessings and abundance!

To those celebrating, may this season of renewal bring you an abundance of peace and overwhelming love. Happy Easter!

To those celebrating, wishing you friendship and unity on this day of colors and every day!

From March 4 to 6, 2024, Coalescion, on behalf of the US Department of State’s Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program, hosted a pivotal workshop focused on reviewing Vietnam’s Draft Law on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Proliferation.

Coalescion’s expert team worked closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense’s Standing Office 81, EXBS, and European Union Partner-to-Partner Programme (EU P2P) lawmaking experts and international delegates to ensure the Draft Law is harmonized with existing Vietnamese CBRN regulations.

Sessions fostered rigorous discussions, driving towards a comprehensive legal framework rooted in constitutional integrity and global harmony. Experts focused on aligning the Draft Law with United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 and other important international treaties.

Coalescion is excited to be part of this vital effort and looks forward to continuing its role in supporting Vietnam’s commitment to combatting WMD proliferation through the finalization and passage of their national WMD Law.

Wishing those celebrating prosperity and happiness in the coming year.

This past week Coalescion, in partnership with the Science and Technology Centers of Ukraine (STCU) and the Odesa Center for Nonproliferation (OdCNP), brought together Ukrainian scientists, technicians, and engineers who maintain a background in Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear Security for a 2-day Workshop in Warsaw, Poland. The workshop focused on knowledge security, research vetting, and roles and responsibilities in managing dual-use materials. 

This exchange was a continuation of an engagement series that provides a platform for collaboration with our Ukrainian counterparts on matters of global, regional, and national security. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors at the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) for their collaborative spirit and role in co-creat
ing a forum that supports shared understanding and evolved security knowledge for a safer, more secure world.

Wishing those celebrating, a peaceful and prosperous Ramadan

To the incomparable women of Coalescion and around the world, we celebrate and thank you for your ability, commitment, fearlessness, and resilience! Our humble but mighty organization prioritizes and cultivates conditions to ensure women are represented in all aspects of our mission. Happy International Women’s Day!

Coalescion is excited to welcome Jessica Hirsch as a new Program and Research Assistant! 
 
Jessica is currently a senior at Tufts University finalizing a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Psychology. During her time at university, Jessica leads the research sector of a student-organized Latin American research group. Outside of Tufts, Jessica has worked in the private and public sectors. Her skills have contributed to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s efforts to tackle climate change, and aiding political stabilization in Latin America through program development.
 
Jessica is from New York City, but she has a very international background as her family comes from seven different countries. Due to her multicultural upbringing, she speaks fluent Spanish, can communicate in French, and understands Portuguese and Italian. A combination of her background and academic focus has led her to explore the field of international conflict resolution. Jessica enjoys painting, aerial silks, and music during her free time.

Successful conclusion to the inaugural orientation of the Women in Strategic Trade Mentorship Initiative (WiSTMI)! Coalescion is shepherding this critically important, U.S. Department of State sponsored program to support the participation and contribution of women in what is a traditionally male strategic trade space. This initial cohort of 6 incredible women hail from the Philippines, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Thank you to everyone who made this possible including the many experts, Coalescion staff, and Dept of State officials who made this a moment to remember!

After 2.5 years of sustained engagement, Coalescion concluded its Explosives Precursor Tracking and Control Jordan and Iraq project. Applying stakeholder ecosystem mapping and assessment on the front end of this initiative ensured the right partners were brought in to voice relevant national priorities and environmental and organizational realities. It also ensured these partners were well positioned to make effective change both at home and bilaterally. The addition of a week-long “Capacity Capture” Workshop afforded partners dedicated time to consider what new capacities (Knowledge, Practices, Skills, Tools) they could operationalize post-program. In the end, the partners developed strong friendships and professional relationships and identified areas in which they could learn from each other. The Iraqis indicated they could benefit from adopting certain systems and protocols being practiced by their Jordanian counterparts and the Jordanians noted they could benefit from the “hands-on”, real-world experience their Iraqi partners have had in combatting threats posed by proliferated explosives and explosives precursors at their borders and at home. Congratulations to these two partners who graciously allowed Coalescion and our steadfast partners at the U.S. Department of State, Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program to co-assess, co-solution, and co-collaborate to make their countries, the region, and the world a safer place. Mabrook!!  
   

Coalescion is excited to welcome Dzung “Jonathan” Dinh as the new Financial Analyst Consultant! 
 
Dzung Dinh is a finance professional hailing from Vietnam, who recently completed a Master’s program at the esteemed University of Exeter, specializing in Financial Analysis and Fund Management. With close to two years of experience in the financial services industry, he has adeptly navigated the intricacies of the financial landscape. Boasting a collection of certificates in Finance, Programming, and Business Management, Dzung exemplifies a commitment to continuous learning and staying abreast of industry trends. With this diverse skill set, he is ready to channel expertise into the role of Financial Analyst Consultant at Coalescion.
 
Beyond the realm of finance, his interests extend to a variety of sports, including soccer, badminton, tennis, and swimming. These activities not only contribute to physical well-being but also reflect the passion for teamwork and competition.
 
Armed with a unique blend of professional experience, academic achievements, and cross-cultural knowledge, Dzung is poised to make significant contributions to Coalescion’s strategic success and dynamic growth as a Financial Analyst Consultant. The journey ahead promises exciting opportunities for collaboration and success!

“Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.” -Theodore Roosevelt

Coalescion is celebrating its 3rd birthday! 3 years of impact, ecosystem and community building, and mutually reinforcing collaboration with partners in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America - and the best is yet to come!